The Prison and Probation Service's special drugs initiative

An evaluation of the work conducted between 2002 and 2004

An evaluation of a three-year initiative to combat drug abuse among prison and probation service clients.

In the spring of 2002, the National Prison and Probation Administration was instructed by the Swedish Government to implement a three-year initiative to combat drug abuse among prison and probation service clients.

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Strategic work against drug abuse

Stated briefly, the initiative involves identifying drug abusers, assessing their need for interventions, motivating them and treating their abuse. The importation of drugs into prisons is to be substantially reduced and staff are to have the knowledge required to work with drug abusers.

In order to realise these goals, the prison and probation service has determined that slightly over one-third of all secure places in prison institutions (approximately 1,400 places in the autumn of 2004) are to be set aside for drug abusers. These places are distributed over 28 prisons, and comprise three types of unit: motivational units, treatment units and special motivational units. The Government has allotted the prison and probation service 100 million SEK (approx. 11 million Euro) for the initiative, i.e. a little over 33 million SEK per year for the three-year period covered by the initiative.

The Swedish National Council for Crime Prevention has been commissioned by the Government to evaluate this drugs initiative. A preliminary report entitled (Vård av missbrukare i anstalt — Providing care for drug abusers in prison) was published on 1st December 2003.